Sheahan/Andersson

The wings really need a fourth line center badly. Emmerton just doesnt cut it and its still a weakness that hasnt been addressed this offseason. Abdelkader needs to play wing and shouldnt be stuck at center because of a lack of someone that can play it.

What is the liklihood/what does everyone think of Sheahan or Andersson taking that fourth line center spot this season? Both are big and very strong defensively and could be a good youth injection. I know the wings usually take their time with prospects but playing between Tootoo and Abdelkader and getting some PK time wouldnt be terrible for their development.

In that one game he played, Sheahan looked to be a presence out there working the boards and looked solid. With his size/strength combo and lack of a good 4th line center, is this the year where the wings jump a prospect in earlier than usual? Helm made his debut at about 21 did he not?

I wouldnt mind seeing something like this take place if a fourth line center isnt aquired

I'm all for it too however, unfortunately I see Emmerton being our fourth line center again. I hope I'm wrong...

Boo! Get a big body that can bang and crash on the 4th line....like LA who just won the cup...just sayin. Emmerton was good in Jr, didn't do jack in the AHL and only made the Wings last season cause he would have been waived for nothing. I'm ok with waiving him for nothing and putting those 2 guys on the roster, or at least 1 of them.

First of all, I thought they pretty much said Abdelkader will be the center on that 4th line during the Tootoo signing?

Second of all, they have too many forwards already. Either they plan on making a trade or they're going to see if Emmerton can pass through waivers and be a vet in GR.

In regards to Anderson and Sheahan, from what I remember, Andersson still has some balance issues on the ice in addition to his skating problems in general. I don't know how effective you can be if you have to keep picking yourself up off the ice. And Sheahan is still a little too young for my liking. It's still possible that they might go with one of these guys. It'd be a nice breath of fresh air for all those who expect the overripe treatment.

Overall, even though I just stated they have too many forwards, my hope is that someone is still out there who they can sign as a quality 4th line center. I don't have any idea as to who that may be though.

First of all, I thought they pretty much said Abdelkader will be the center on that 4th line during the Tootoo signing?

Second of all, they have too many forwards already. Either they plan on making a trade or they're going to see if Emmerton can pass through waivers and be a vet in GR.

In regards to Anderson and Sheahan, from what I remember, Andersson still has some balance issues on the ice in addition to his skating problems in general. I don't know how effective you can be if you have to keep picking yourself up off the ice. And Sheahan is still a little too young for my liking. It's still possible that they might go with one of these guys. It'd be a nice breath of fresh air for all those who expect the overripe treatment.

Overall, even though I just stated they have too many forwards, my hope is that someone is still out there who they can sign as a quality 4th line center. I don't have any idea as to who that may be though.

First of all, I thought they pretty much said Abdelkader will be the center on that 4th line during the Tootoo signing?

Second of all, they have too many forwards already. Either they plan on making a trade or they're going to see if Emmerton can pass through waivers and be a vet in GR.

In regards to Anderson and Sheahan, from what I remember, Andersson still has some balance issues on the ice in addition to his skating problems in general. I don't know how effective you can be if you have to keep picking yourself up off the ice. And Sheahan is still a little too young for my liking. It's still possible that they might go with one of these guys. It'd be a nice breath of fresh air for all those who expect the overripe treatment.

Overall, even though I just stated they have too many forwards, my hope is that someone is still out there who they can sign as a quality 4th line center. I don't have any idea as to who that may be though.

Holland said he wants to see Tootoo and Abdelkader play together, that doesnt mean Abby has to be at centre however. But if one of these 2 can crack the squad there would obviously be trades, theres already going to be trades of some kind due to how many forwards they have. And now that Andersson has had some NHL time and a full offseason to workout, if he has a strong camp I dont se why his skating would be a concern for a fourth liner.

I do think trading Eaves/Miller/Emmerton for a fourth line center might be a better option

Tootoo-Sheahan/Andersson-Abby... Man that's a nasty line to play against. Maybe not skillful enough though..

Abby is a better NHL center than Sheahan or Andersson, and Miller and Eaves are better NHL wingers than Abby. Therefore, the line you mentioned, while ostensibly tough, is really less good than another you could put on the ice at any given time. Maybe put that line out when you're playing a bigger team or something.

Sheahan and andersson need to learn how to use their size more, and no im not saying they should fight 10 times a year, but we need a 4th line that can put up 30 goals combined, be strong defensively, and s*** all over the opponent physically, and not back down be/punching bags. An extremely physical forecheck is under rated, especially when they play against the bottom D pairing often, which may have rookies, a physical presance easily gets them rattled and out of sorts rookie or not.

No space for Sheahan/Andersson unless we trade somebody - and it gets even worse if we sign Semin/Doan (which probably won't happen at this point).

And just to add, I think Brunner and Nyquist need to be used in the top 6 (Babcock basically guaranteed that Brunner will start in the top 6 anyways) in order for them to realize their full potential. If we're talking best-case scenarios, I think that Brunner could hit ~55 pts playing on that top line with Datsyuk, and Nyquist should hit at least 40-60. That's pretty decent, and an improvement over last year(if it works out).

Brunner is faster than Bertuzzi, has a better shot, and has better hands. He's just way more suited for the top six than Bert is. In terms of the most optimistic outlook on next season, I think we could see something like this up front (point totals)

No space for Sheahan/Andersson unless we trade somebody - and it gets even worse if we sign Semin/Doan (which probably won't happen at this point).

And just to add, I think Brunner and Nyquist need to be used in the top 6 (Babcock basically guaranteed that Brunner will start in the top 6 anyways) in order for them to realize their full potential. If we're talking best-case scenarios, I think that Brunner could hit ~55 pts playing on that top line with Datsyuk, and Nyquist should hit at least 40-60. That's pretty decent, and an improvement over last year(if it works out).

Brunner is faster than Bertuzzi, has a better shot, and has better hands. He's just way more suited for the top six than Bert is. In terms of the most optimistic outlook on next season, I think we could see something like this up front (point totals)

We need to dump bottom 6 forwards as is soooooo from my armchair I'd trade away Mursak, Emmerton, and Miller....this would leave your 13th and 14th forwards to be Nyquist and Andersson....To me, Sheahan simply has put his time in yet....He'll likely be a beast one day but he needs to do at least one full season in GR before he gets his shot.

Andersson and Nyquist could both earn full time spots on the team this year....and if that happens I'd trade away even more forwards....like an Eaves or something

Just about anyone would be an upgrade over Emmerton as our 4th line center. Its obvious that we have too many bottom 6 forwards. Guys will be traded or placed on waivers, there is no getting around that. I'd like to think Ken would get a legitimate 4th line center, but I doubt it. I think both Sheahan and Andersson should see at least a few games this year. But you know the overripe thing, so we won't see a lot of either of them.

"Ice hockey is a form of disorderly conduct in which the score is kept."

Just about anyone would be an upgrade over Emmerton as our 4th line center. Its obvious that we have too many bottom 6 forwards. Guys will be traded or placed on waivers, there is no getting around that. I'd like to think Ken would get a legitimate 4th line center, but I doubt it. I think both Sheahan and Andersson should see at least a few games this year. But you know the overripe thing, so we won't see a lot of either of them.

Again, why is everybody so against Abby being the fourth line center, considering he's a much worse winger than Bert, Cleary, Sammy, Eaves, Miller, Nyquist, and maybe Brunner? Why do we need to shop for a fourth line center when we've got a better one than last year, and better wingers than Abby when he plays that position?